1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B news, pictures, and information

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Mille Miglia Superleggera Coupe
Coachwork: Touring
Chassis Num: 815053
Engine Num: 824007

This 1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 B Mille Miglia lay dormant for many years in a chateau of a collector. It was purchased by the owner of the collection, Michel Dovaz (a Swiss national), in 1956 and remained with him for 34 years. It was sold in the 1990s to Messrs Heida and Thierry and given a detailed restoration. The original bodywork and original fittings were preserved. It was sold in 1997, wearing a French Blue color scheme, to Belgian Raoul San Giorgi. It was in the possession of Paul Koot in The Netherlands by 1999. It was later purchased by the current owner. Upon purchase, the owner began another restoration that took two years to complete. The car was stripped down, the body removed from the Superleggera tubing, cleaned, painted and rewrapped in the correct burlap covering to prevent electrolytic reaction. It has the correct bumpers, stamped '2087', which correspond to this chassis - number 815053. The car was fitted with period-correct Carello head- and taillights, along with proper Bosch driving lights. It has its original Bosch ignition key, a prewar Pirrelli key fob and the original brass 1938 Automobile Club d'Italia tax stamp. It has genuine Alfa Romeo-brand rear shocks and NOS Triple-Carb Solex carburetors found only on the Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia cars.

The interior is finished in deep British Green leather. The car rides on aluminum Borrani wire wheels - a period option - has hydraulic brakes, swing axles and torsion-bar suspension. The Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 was produced from 1934 through 1939 with a total of 1,606 units built. This example is the lightweight coupe bodied by Touring. There is a six-cylinder, inline, cast-iron block, 2309cc (2.3-liter) displacement engine, with two carburetors, developing 95 horsepower. It is coupled to a 4-speed transmission with the 3rd and 4th gears synchronized and is capable of 90 mph. It is equipped with hydraulic drum-type brakes on wheels and a mechanical handbrake on the rear axle. Alfa Romeo offered a big sedan, a smaller sedan and convertible, and this lightweight coupe. The cars weigh between 2,816 and 3,410 pounds and sold for between $2,225 and $3,925.

In 2007, the car was awarded a Best in Class award at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It won a CCCA Senior Badge at the Nationals in Bellevue, Washington in January of 2008.

In 2008, this 6C 2300 B Mille Miglia was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, California. The lot was sold for $2,585,000, including buyer's premium.

The 2.3-liter version of Vittorio Jano's engine was a continuation of excellence and perfection. The 1500 was the first increment, and it truly created recognition for the Italian based manufacturer. The 1750 and 1900 soon followed, then came the 2300 which offered just over 70 horsepower initially. Its construction was very similar to its predecessors, utilizing two overhead camshafts actuating two valves for each cylinder. It was formed using a cast-iron block and light-alloy head and mated to a four-speed gearbox with drum brakes on all four corners.

The first car to house the 2300 engine was the 63 2300 which made its inaugural debut at the 1934 Milan Motorshow. The body was courtesy of Castagna in four-door saloon configuration. A short-wheelbase Gran Turismo version soon followed, as did a higher compression version of the engine offering nearly 100 horsepower. These sporty versions were called the Pescara model and only sixty examples would ever be produced. The long wheelbase versions were called the Turismo's, the shorter Gran Turismos were known as the Pescara's. Within a few years, they would simply be known as the SWB and LWB for 'short' and 'long' wheelbase respectively.

Time brings about improvement, and very little time transpired before a 'B' version was introduced. In 1935 the 6C 2300B was introduced which brought new changes to the suspension and chassis, and mild improvements to the already potent powerplant. The suspension was independent in both the front and rear with swing axles in the rear and wishbones in the front.

In 1937 a Pescara emerged from the Mille Miglia with a class victory; in its honor the Pescara's name was changed to MM.

Production of the 2300 continued until 1939 when it was replaced by the 6C 2500 which would remain in production, except during war time, until 1952.

In the early 1930s, Alfa Romeo was in financial trouble. It was rescued by the Italian government who took control of the company in 1933 through the Istituto Riconstruzione Industriale (IRI). The day-to-day operation of the racing program was given to Enzo Ferrari. With the racing program well managed and the concerns of the marketplace put to rest, the Alfa Romeo engineers were free to create some of the most elegant and technology advanced vehicles of their day.

The Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 was introduced in 1934. They featured a dual overhead cam six-cylinder engine that produced nearly 70 horsepower. This figure rose rather quickly as racing versions soon emerged, bringing horsepower closer to 100 bhp. With the help of Enzo Ferrari, the 6C 2300 did well in competition; its first victory made at the Targa Abruzzo distance races in Pescara in 1934 where they swept the field. In honor of this accomplishment, a small series of these were produced as the 6C 2300 Pescara.

For 1935, the 6C 2300 was given hydraulic brakes, a fully independent suspension, and a lighter, more modern chassis. These changes resulted in a name change, now dubbed the 6C 2300B. Future changes to the series included a new gearbox with Synchromesh on the third and top gear and improved frame mountings.

The top-of-the-line 6C 2300B was Mille Miglia version, built on the short chassis with a 105 horsepower engine. Perhaps the most memorable were those clothed by Carrozzeria Touring, one of which took first place in the Turismo class of the 1937 Millle Miglia and 4th overall. There were only 107 examples of the 6C 2300B MM produced between 1938 and 1939.

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